The Grande Chartreuse Monastery in Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, France, attracts and intrigues visitors with its unique location.
Located at 3,900 feet above sea level in the French Alps, the monastery is only accessible on foot and is known for its top-secret liqueur recipes.
The monastery is almost 1,000 old and has experienced many twists and turns since its creation. Below is the story of this mysterious place!
A creation linked to Divine Providence!
In 1084, the Bishop Saint Hugh of Grenoble had a vision where he saw seven men wanting to praise God in a mountain called "Chartreuse."
At the same time, he received a visit from a university professor from Cologne (who became Saint Bruno) accompanied by six companions. The seven men and six companions set off for the mountain to isolate themselves and devote their lives to God in prayer.
The construction of a monastery began by combining communal life with solitary life. Each monk has his own independent cell connected to the others by a gallery leading to the church and the refectory.
Once the monastery was built, Bruno went to Italy and set up a second Chartreuse based on the same model. He eventually died in 1101. That year, there were still no written rules to define the life of the monks.
The Statutes of Guigues the Chartreux were later established in 1127 and spread to all the Chartreuses in Europe.
A beautiful growth followed by difficulties
In the 14th century, there were 150 Chartreuses following the model of the Grande Chartreuse.
Each one had its own prior and they regularly gathered around a small glass of liqueur (of course, they drank it in moderation.)
Unfortunately, from the end of the 14th century, the houses closed one after the other due to wars and fires. Consequently, after the revolution, there were no Chartreuses left in France, and even the Grande Chartreuse closed.
Despite a return in 1816, the monks' problems continued. In 1903, a law dissolved all congregations.
In 1940, after 30 years in Italy, the brothers returned to live in the Monastery of the Grande Chartreuse. And today, life there is peaceful and almost identical to the rhythm of the first Chartreux!
The Liqueurs of the the Grande Chartreuse Monastery
In 1605, Marshal d'Estrées gave the Grande Chartreuse brothers a mysterious manuscript containing the recipe for a plant-based elixir. A century later, thanks to an adjustment of the manuscript, Brother Jerome created the final recipe for the elixir.
A mysterious recipe made with 130 different plants, this "Elixir of the Grande Chartreuse" quickly gained a reputation as a powerful remedy and the brothers slightly modified the recipe to make it pleasant to drink.
Three liqueurs now stand out among their monastic crafts:
- The Elixir of the Grande Chartreuse, a liqueur sold in a beautiful wooden case and renowned for its active virtues.
- The Green Chartreuse, launched in 1840, is well known for its unique natural color (it is the origin of the "green chartreuse" color), its antiquity, and its taste of 130 plants!
- The Yellow Chartreuse, launched in 1840, delights enthusiasts with its softer and sweeter taste than its green sister.
The Monks of the Grande Chartreuse Today
Today, the monks of the Grande Chartreuse consist of approximately 30 brothers who still follow the Statutes defined more than 900 years ago by Guigues le Chartreux.
It is a particularly silent community and the brothers live a solitary life. They still have moments of community life, with three services a day, including one at 1 a.m.! To preserve their prayer life, the monastery is not open to visitors, and there is no shop or hotel. But fortunately, a museum opened in 1957 to satisfy the curious!
Discover the products of the Grande Chartreuse monastery
Now you know all about this monastery, despite its many secrets. Don't hesitate to visit if you are in the area - it's a magical place!
In particular by going to the museum:
Musée de la Grande Chartreuse
670 Route du Désert,
38380 Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, France
But if you cannot visit, you can purchase the Grande Chartreuse monastery's products from Divine Box's online monastic store.